Daphne Maple - Roxbury Park Dog Club #6: A Bone to Pick

The halls of Roxbury Park Middle School were packed with kids talking and laughing as I wove my way toward my best friend Kims locker. That was our official meeting place after the last bell rang every day and today I was running a little late.

Hi, Sasha, Kim said when I finally made it.

Lets get going, my other best friend, Taylor, said with an easy grin as she slung her bag over her shoulder. It was so bulky and heavy it took her two tries. I dont want to be late for class. Taylor, who was the newer of my best friends, took fabulous pictures and had just started studying advanced photography at the Roxbury Park Art Center.

And Im helping my mom out at the Pampered Puppy today, so I should hustle too, Bri said.

Bri was the newest member of our pack and in some ways I was still getting to know her. She was also the newest member of the Roxbury Park Dog Club, which Kim, Taylor, and I had founded at the start of the year. Seventh graders at Roxbury Park Middle School were required to do community service and the three of us had signed up to work at the local dog shelter, an amazing place that took in homeless dogs and kept them safe and happy until they found new homes. But Alice, who ran the shelter, was having trouble making ends meet. At the same time, Kims neighbors were looking for someone to walk their dog, Humphrey, in the afternoons before they got home from work. In a flash of brilliance Kim realized that if we started a dog club after school at the shelter, dogs could get a few hours of much needed exercise and fun, and we could bring in some extra money for the shelter. Many of the dogs owners also signed up for pickup service, which meant wed swing by their homes on the way to club meetings and walk the dogs to the shelter. It cost a bit extra but was worth it for owners who were busy at work.

Did you guys get that email from Alice last night? Kim asked. The one with a picture of Coco in her new home? The big black and brown dog had been one of our earliest club members and I was sad to see her go, but the picture last night had definitely showed us all how happy she was.

Shes living the doggy dream, Taylor said, making us laugh. Cocos owner had moved to a big farm in Pennsylvania, with acres of land to run on and lots of ducks and squirrels to chase. It really was the doggy dream and I was happy Coco got to live it.

We have to figure out how many new dogs we can take into the club now that Cocos gone, Kim said as the four of us walked toward the door.

The club had been a huge success, especially after wed been featured in the local newspaper with pictures taken by Taylor. Now we had a wait list and Alice had been able to start up a new venture, a foster program for dogs. We were all huge fans of that project, but it definitely kept Alice busy.

How many club dogs are there now? Taylor asked as we walked down the front path of the school. Kids milled around us and a football whizzed past between a pair of eighth graders.

Popsicle, Jinx, Waffles, Missy, Hattie, and Humphrey, Bri said as she ticked off on her fingers. Sometimes it still surprised me that Bri was a club member. Not so long ago shed been mean to Taylor, jealous that Taylor had been the new girl but fit in so seamlessly. To make matters worse, Bris mom, who owned a fancy doggy day care, had tried to take our club down. For a while their aggressive advertising plan had worked, but in the end we all realized that there was room in town for two dog care centers. At the same time Bri realized that Taylor was awesome while Taylor, with her big heart, realized Bri just needed friends. Bri began hanging out at the shelter and loved it so much that we asked her to join the club. Plus Daisy and Gusand of course Mr. S and Lily. She shot me a grin when she said the last two names and I grinned right back. Bri and I had both adopted shelter dogs, and they loved going back to visit their pals.

My parents got divorced when I was little, so it was just me and my mom, which could get a little lonely. Bringing Mr. S home had totally fixed that, and I adored my snuggly Cavachon with all my heart. Lately hed been taking up a lot more of my time though. Mr. S was an older dog and as a result needed to go out more often. Of course I always took himI needed my sweet pup comfortable, and my mom, who was a bit of a neat freak, did not want an accident in the house. But with everything else I had going on, the extra walks were tough.

Thats ten club dogs, Kim said. The brisk wind whipping the fall leaves off the trees had turned her cheeks pink. Winter was not far off and I was glad Id worn my thick green fleece. I didnt want my muscles to get cold on the walk over to dance rehearsal. My mom used to drive me, but she was extra busy at work right now and it really wasnt a long walk to the studio.

I think we could take in two more dogs since there are four of us plus Tim and Caley, Kim continued. Tim and Caley were high schoolers who volunteered at the shelter with us. At first it had been a little intimidating to work with older kids, but now we were all really comfortable together. And that would bring our total to twelve club dogs.

That sounds good, Taylor said, smoothing down her braids. Despite her efforts, the beads at the ends were clinking musically in the wind.

So youll call the next people on the wait list? Bri said to me in her direct way. Even though she worked hard to control her temper, there were still times when she was blunt in a way that could sting. I knew this wasnt one of those times: handling new clients was part of my job at the club, so of course shed ask me about it. But it still made my stomach tighten up because I really did not have time to call anyone, let alone a family from the wait list who would have a ton of questions and take ages to schedule for their trial visit.

Ill try to get to it tonight if I have time, I said, absently twisting a curl around my fingers. Bri and I were both wearing our long hair in ponytails but mine was sloppy, with curls leaking out, while Bris straight black hair was sleek, with a few carefully curled strands framing her face. She was twisting the jade charm she always wore on a red string around her neckBri was Chinese American and she had told us that the pendant was for good luck.

Were all going to be pretty pressed for time with that report we have to do for social studies, Kim said with a sigh as we waited for a car to pass before crossing Market Street. Kim struggled in school and recently her parents had considered sending her to private school. Eventually theyd agreed to let her stay with us at Roxbury Park Middle School but it was on the condition that she keep her grades up. Tutoring sessions with Taylors math genius older sister, Anna, helped a lot, but Kim still got anxious, especially when we had big assignments. And the cultural essays that Mr. Martin had announced today were definitely intimidating. That was a big reason I was so stressed, tooI had no extra time, so how was I supposed to write ten pages about Mongolia, a country I knew nothing about?

I wish hed let us choose the place we were studying, Taylor said. Id rather learn about Egypt or France than Iceland.

I think Iceland is partly covered by glaciers, Bri said. Shed lucked out with Italy. She could write about yummy food and the painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and shed be done in no time, unlike the rest of us. That could be cool to write about.